(Garen - PoV)
"Well Lux, welcome to the Rathole." I gesture to the...not exactly impressive settlement before us. "The first stop of our grand adventure."
"...Great. I'm positively quivering in excitement. Also, really? Really Brother?" She's giving me the look again.
"I know, it's not exactly the nicest place bu-" I try to explain.
"Not the town," she cuts me off. "I am not surprised we end up in such places while on the run. No, I am talking about the fact that I thought that we are still technically trying to avoid attention?"
"Err, yes?"
"In that case, I am Anna, and you are Aaron, the Cornstalk children. Obviously completely unrelated to Garen and Luxanna Crownguard," she explains to me in the tone reserved for telling off a particularly stupid dog.
"That...is a very good point," I admit. "Though, well, should we keep the names so similar?"
She grimaces a bit. "Unfortunately I expect so, we don't have any practice at responding to other names. I doubt it would be a huge deal but," she shrugs, "not much point in using false names at all if we can't even remember them."
She pauses a moment before glaring at me.
"I trust you can remember three words for a few days?"
"Anna, despite your constant jabs I am not, in fact, a complete imbecile," I reprimand. She has been in something of a mood since last night.
She physically recoils, hesitating before replying. "Sorry, Brother. It's...I..." she can't seem to find the words to explain.
Stepping forward I wrap my arms around her.
"I won't lie, I don't understand. But it doesn't matter. I love you anyway," I assure her, kissing the top of her head. "But keep in mind, dear sister, if you keep throwing these barbs at me, I am putting all your Jerri Juice on the top shelf wherever we stay."
There we go, that's the expression I was looking for. Finally, something goes right!
"Fortune or the gods favor us, it seems," I can't help but think as there appears to be a caravan loading up to leave soon. We did our basic shopping, grabbing some...essentials for Lux, and various bits and bobs that might be useful if the trip takes longer than expected, but it looks like our caution may have been unneeded.
"Hail, friend," I call to a man I assume to be the caravan master as we approach. Finding such is generally a fairly simple matter; look for whoever is the gaudiest and least tastefully dressed.
"Oh?" The man asks as he turns, bushy mustache twitching as if alive, seemly trying to escape the squashed nose it rests under. "How can I help you today, sir..."
"Aaron. Aaron Cornstalk, and my sister Anna. Sorry to interrupt, I wished to ask where your caravan was headed to?"
"Hrmm," He considers for a moment, looking me up and down with beady black eyes. "Hrmm hrmm hrmm. We are heading East, to Dogwood, my good man. Yourselves?"
"East as well. Dogwood is well along the path we wish in fact. I don't suppose you have need of another sword for your caravan?"
"Normally no, we have a regular contract. Recently however there has been a spate of attacks of...undead." He pauses, watching me for a reaction.
Please, he will need a lot more than that to get a rise out of me. "Nasty things. More security certainly wouldn't hurt...depending on your fees?" He continues after I don't react, a hint of approval in his voice.
"Just transportation for the two of us. I have plenty of coin for the moment, and expect to make plenty more at my destination."
His eyebrows temporarily join his mustache's attempts to crawl off his face, before he schools his expression, holding out a soft hand. "Well, that certainly sounds like my kind of deal, Mr. Cornstalk."
A quick shake and the deal is sealed.
"We should be heading out in an hour, if your sister wants a good spot she should pick it now. If you would please speak to Mr. Carnos, he is the head of my guards. Look for the red helmet."
I agree and flee as politely as possible from his frankly disturbing facial hair. Between my travels around the world, my time in the League, fighting as a soldier, accompanying Jarvan in the Demacian court, and general adventuring I thought I had seen a lot, but what the fuck.
Lux and I head towards the wagons. She has gone back to being quiet again since her last outburst...I wish I knew how to help her properly. But naturally, people skills were always her area, not mine. Showing her Mr. Mustache would certainly get a reaction but I have no idea if it would help or traumatize her worse. Escorting her through an undead infested swamp on the other hand? That, that I can do. If only all problems could be fixed with violence.
Once she finds a comfortable spot we can agree on, I move on to find this Carnos. Luck strikes again, as I find a scarred, white-haired man with deeply tanned skin carrying red helmet while checking on the scouts at the front. He notices my approach and turns towards me long before I get a chance to speak, examining me carefully with tired grey eyes.
"Sellsword?" he asks, thankfully saying the word far less scorn than most.
"Aye, here for the trip to Dogswood. My sister is riding in the caravan."
He gives me a nod. "Good, you at least look like you know how to fight. This route has not been a dangerous one in recent times, but reports of undead are never something to dismiss out of hand. I worry people are underestimating the threat..."
"I understand and agree." I hesitate a moment, I really shouldn't draw more attention but, I have to know. "Have there been any whispers of Karthus?" I ask quietly.
Carnos understandably tenses up. Karthus is not a name mentioned lightly in any of the marshes, even if he technically only claimed the Howling Marsh specifically. Few who near, much less enter, his domain return alive...but that doesn't mean they don't return at all. Karthus had a tendency to go through periods of inactivity, followed by sudden rampages or surges of undead through surrounding areas for no apparent reason. His application, and acceptance, into the League was a surprise to everyone; but the citizens of the marsh are waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"No, I certainly wouldn't be making this trip if there were. You don't get to my age making those kinds of mistakes," he tells me, shaking his head. "Nothing remotely like that, or even any major sighting or disappearances just..." he sighs. "I've lost too many people to the dead to underestimate them. Where there's one there's more, and people have seen more than one recently."
"Better to be too cautious than not cautious enough," I assure him. "Fear not though my man, I've killed entirely too many enemies with my sword. You have nothing to worry about."
He scoffs at my bravado. "Don't get arrogant now, whelp, I've been doing this since before you were born." He pauses a moment, considering. "Which wagon is your sister in?"
"The fourth."
"Good enough a spot as any, you can take that position, so long as you can keep an eye out instead of in?"
"Not a problem, I've spent plenty of time playing sentry."
He shoos me away, turning back towards the exit of the town.
I kill some time talking to the other guards but don't learn anything really important. The usual boastful stories and rumors. I would much rather talk to Lux but there are too many others in the wagon with her that would overhear. Perhaps I should have carried her the rest of the way, undead and potential pursuers be damned...